Gaise Baba criticizes The Headies over gospel music categorization

Afrogospel singer Gaise Baba has criticized The Headies awards organizers, alleging that faith-based music is being sidelined from mainstream categories. In an open letter published on X on August 28, 2026, the artist argued that gospel musicians should be judged based on musical merit, such as songwriting, cadence, and delivery, rather than the religious nature of their lyrics.

Baba contended that the subject matter of a song should not dictate its classification. He used rap as an example, stating that a rap record remains a rap record regardless of whether the lyrics address faith, social issues, or other topics. He expressed concern that restricting faith-based songs to inspirational or gospel categories prevents them from competing for recognition in broader genre-specific fields.

The 18th edition of The Headies is scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada, on October 25, 2026, featuring nominees across 35 categories.